Cheaper to buy a new W123 300D then to get mine painted...

[Carrameow]

I have my engine out on my 85 300D and I was thinking now is the time to get it painted. I wanted a color change from Steel Grey to something bright and cheerful like Amber or Red ( Question: What is the brightest authentic W123 300D color and where can I find a color chart) I was really tempted to paint the car myself, and I still am.
But after thinking about it and estimating it, I actually found that the going price for W123's witha good paint job would be $1500. It would be cheaper to buy another one and rebuild it.

[tomm9298]

Oilslick did. He went to Maaco and got the $199.00 special. Even if you have to repaint every 18 months it will take some tome to hit $1500. My local paint store carries a color chart, but only goes back about 12 years or so. Or, check this link, it gives examples of colors. http://www.paintscratch.com/
Includes MB color codes.

[Pete Geither]

We are in the process of painting a 126 right now. By the time we are done the bill looks like it will be right around 7 big ones. I am getting some new trim and other mis. pieces for it along with a new windshield. The owner found a new interior and wheels. This is going to be one fine 126 when it's done. I know,,,, he'll have more money in it than what it's worth. What else is new ?

[JimmyL]

Originally Posted by PJG56

We are in the process of painting a 126 right now. By the time we are done the bill looks like it will be right around 7 big ones. I am getting some new trim and other mis. pieces for it along with a new windshield. The owner found a new interior and wheels. This is going to be one fine 126 when it's done. I know,,,, he'll have more money in it than what it's worth. What else is new ?

Big ones as in $7000.00

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Big ones as in $7000.00

Man he must seriously love that car.......................

[d.delano]

Dude just get another one. My living arrangements prevent me from doing it but if I were like in a HOUSE for instance with a DRIVEWAY wouldn't even need a GARAGE I'd have two or three by now. I have to sit here like a knob and content myself with just one.
Get yourself another and get yourself satisfied because here come the WVO crowd buyin' up all the MB 123s. I'm serious the movement is gaining momentum, I'm seeing evidence of it everywhere.

[TwitchKitty]

Originally Posted by d.delano

Get yourself another and get yourself satisfied because here come the WVO crowd buyin' up all the MB 123s. I'm serious the movement is gaining momentum, I'm seeing evidence of it everywhere.

This is very true. Many of them just have a passing interest that will soon fade but in the mean time WVO will put many diesels in the graveyard. I suspect that forums like this do also if the truth were told.

[Carrameow]

I know in Seattle W123's are the big rage also. Whatever...makes me wonder where they were all those lonely Hot and sticky nights in the 90's when I was in my garage doing my engines.

Anyway I was thinking seriously of painting my 300D myself, just a panel at a time. It might not be perfect, but at least I can say I did it. Thats not to say I would do a bad job either. As long as you are patient and willing to respray and restrip some areas, it might be fun and look good too.

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by Carrameow

I know in Seattle W123's are the big rage also. Whatever...makes me wonder where they were all those lonely Hot and sticky nights in the 90's when I was in my garage doing my engines.

Anyway I was thinking seriously of painting my 300D myself, just a panel at a time. It might not be perfect, but at least I can say I did it. Thats not to say I would do a bad job either. As long as you are patient and willing to respray and restrip some areas, it might be fun and look good too.

Hey unless you are a total dolt a home job will be superiour to faded pealing paint, or mismatched panels........

And if you are spraying a metalic color you do want to do it all at once....or the panels will likely appear mismatched...

[Carrameow]

Of course with my luck the wind will take the overspray and it will land on my neighbor's brand new SUV. Since it would be 2 am when i was doing it I would get some lacquer thinner and lightly try to rub it and take it off and end up smearin gthe paint on the thing. So I would owe him a new paint job and it would run 5 grand

[boneheaddoctor]

DO it inside your garage.....Silver and Charcoal grey metalics are the Hardest to spray and get consistant results......

[Hatterasguy]

Any W123 you buy for $1500 is going to have 20+ year old paint with imperfections. A fresh $1,500 should look much better. However "good" paint jobs run at least twice that if not much more.

[Ted_Grozier]

For authentic colors you can visit paintscratch as mentioned or also http://astralsilber.de/ under "Farbcodes." Click each color to see an actual car.

Ted

[lietuviai]

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

This is very true. Many of them just have a passing interest that will soon fade but in the mean time WVO will put many diesels in the graveyard. I suspect that forums like this do also if the truth were told.

Why do you think that WVO will put them in the graveyard?

[dmorrison]

This is a dilemma.

We just had my sons car painted at a Maaco. $935. But that included Le-mans racing strips and door jabs and under the hood. It did not include the trunk.

before

http://www.kkpony.com/64-66/thumbs/dmorrison.jpg

(link to complete page
http://www.kkpony.com/64-66.html)

After, scroll down

December 23 in my shop.

I painted the trunk in the original paint color 5 years ago. Single stage paint.
My sons Friend painted his 68 Cougar with 3 layers of lacquer. $1000 in all for the materials. ask him , while he was helping my son prepare his car for painting, if he would do it again and the answer is NO!!

Now both cars are good 10 Foot paint jobs. Any closer and you can start to see the imperfections. But it is guaranteed for 4 years, Actually 2 then prorated for 2 more.

Its a lot of work to prep and do a car and if your not good at it it will look bad, runny and orange pealed.

Want a great looking car. $5-7000.00 to do it right.

It sounds like a new car may be the way to go.